The murder of rancher Robert Krentz: One year later

Posted: Mar 27, 2011 11:37 PM CDT
Updated: Mar 28, 2011 7:30 PM CDT

By Jessica Chapin, Reporter

Video Gallery: The murder of rancher Robert Krentz: one year later
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Reporter: Jessica Chapin
Web Producer: Ina Ronquillo

TUCSON (KGUN9- TV) - It's been one year since 58-year-old Cochise County rancher Robert Krentz was murdered, but to his friends it sometimes feels like yesterday.

"It should've never happened," Roger Barnett told 9 On Your Side reporter Jessica Chapin, "It was a shock and it still is a shock."

Barnett lives just 10 miles from the Krentz ranch. It was just miles from where police found Krentz dead one year ago. He'd called home to tell his family he had encountered an illegal immigrant, but never came home. Krentz' body was on his ATV which was still running. His dog Blue had also been shot and killed.

Investigators found shoe prints near the scene and tracked the trail one mile south of the border until it went cold.

"When it first happened I thought within a couple months, three months at the most they'd have this guy in jail," said Barnett.

But, the Cochise County Sheriff's Office has no suspects or arrests. Investigators have one person of interest they identified last June, but they are still working to find Krentz's killer.

Meanwhile, the murder has sparked a national border security debate. An issue Barnett says has also made little progress.

"Since his death I think they had more agents come in from the Texas sector," said Barnett, "with that many agents and everything it should be a lot better than it is."

Barnett is still contacting members of Congress and leading efforts in his community to secure the border. He says he wants more than temporary National Guard troops or increased numbers of agents. He wants the military on the front line of the fence.

http://www.kgun9.com/global/story.asp?s=14331385